World's Largest Refrigerated Vessel Launched — A Milestone for China's Deep-Sea Fishing Industry
Eight vessels on order, six refrigerated compartments down to -35°C and a 15,000 cbm record: China's deep-sea fishing ambitions just got a major cold-chain upgrade.
On February 20, 2026, Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering launched the world's largest refrigerated vessel, with a cargo capacity of 15,000 cbm. The ship is owned by Shanghai Changzheng Shipping Co., Ltd., and was purpose-built for deep-sea fishing operations, incorporating an advanced temperature-control system designed to handle the demanding requirements of long-haul cold-chain logistics.
The vessel measures 146 metres in length and 22 metres in beam, with a total cargo volume of 15,130 m³ distributed across six refrigerated compartments featuring zoned refrigeration capable of cryogenic transport down to -35°C. She has been classed by the China Classification Society (CCS) and holds an Ice Zone Class B navigation rating, allowing operations in moderate ice conditions.
The ship is designed to supply provisions to deep-sea fishing fleets and to handle the transhipment of marine products under full temperature control — a critical function as China's distant-water fishing operations push further into the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Shanghai Changzheng has contracted CIMC SOE for a series of eight refrigerated transport vessels. As of January 2026, four are in active construction,a nd a sister vessel of 15,000 cbm was launched just weeks earlier, on January 26, 2026.